Sacrificial anode in aluminum recovery tank- Will it prevent corrosion. Does it work?

[ruff]

I am getting confused here.
Will a sacrificial anode in an aluminum recovery tank help preventing or reducing corrosion?

Some say that it will only help in fresh water tank, some say that it will help in recovery tank.

Anybody knows?

 

[Desk Jockey]

Oh hell now we're into sacrifices? I knew it was bound to come to this.

Not sure. ??? How long has your current one done before it had an issue?

Can they rino line the inside of a tank? I wonder if it would help?

 

[dgardner]

I don't know for sure, but in the marine environment I know sacrificial anodes are used both in fresh water and salt water. I imagine electrolysis happens in the recovery tank as well.

I do know that for the anode to work it must be fastened (electrically bonded) to the aluminum, it's not something you can just toss in the bottom of the tank.

 

[dgardner]

Can they rino line the inside of a tank? I wonder if it would help?

The problem with tank coatings is they must be perfect. One pinhole and liquid seeps under the lining and gets trapped there, which is worse than no lining at all. There are companies that specialize in tank coatings, but it is a very meticulous, expensive process involving careful surface prep and usually several coats of an expensive coating.

 

[Desk Jockey]

A decade or more ago we used fiber rinse exclusively and we would get barnacles building up in the aluminum waste tanks. It only happened with the acid rinses, nothing since.

The problem with tank coatings is they must be perfect. One pinhole and liquid seeps under the lining and gets trapped there, which is worse than no lining at all.

Gotcha!

 

[dgardner]

A decade or more ago we used fiber rinse exclusively and we would get barnacles building up in the aluminum waste tanks. It only happened with the acid rinses, nothing since.

That makes sense. An anode would help electrolysis in the recovery tank, but wouldn't stop direct chemical attack.

 

[ruff]

Anybody else?

What do the big boys (DaBurns and Hagopian, others) do?

 

[FB7777]

Hagopian uses Butlers and Butler has all stainless waste and fresh tanks

 

[Desk Jockey]

Hagopian uses Butlers that have stainless tanks. I'm not sure what the Great Oz does but I'm sure its something tricky.

 

[bob vawter]

Hagopian uses Butlers and Butler has all stainless waste and fresh tanks

Actually Steam Genies made the best stainless tank ever...over the wheel well saved way more space....with a stupidly simple waste tank filter
i jus turned down two Steam Genies (cheep) cuz they didn't come wit a waste tank....

 

[ruff]

Hey Shawn, I see you on the thread. Any knowledge regarding the issue?

 

[GeneMiller]

Zinc, aluminum and magnesium are all used as sacrificial anodes. Magnesium would work best for an aluminum tank. Never used one,always had aluminum and never had any problems. Don't suck up coins, pennies stuck to the bottom of your tank can cause some problems.

Gene